Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-06-23

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Above all things have cheerful cen
versation at the table. There ID n,
place where it is of 30 much value
and. therefore. ought to be induls
ed in freely in the home al chi,
time. when members Of the family
meet together. Amesl eaten in snl.
len silence 10 Of all things the least "a
De desired BY most people. Few care
to eat alone. and many whsn away
from home viii oftsa 40 without rath.
er than eat without company. To
thoroughly enjoy meal busy per.
son must have his mind away from his
work for The time being. but the mind
'sa dificult servant TO manage. wan.
dsring of wherever il wills. usually
into the very channel that he has been
trying to avoid. Some people possess
the happy faculty of locking their
working-mind into the Office when
leaving. or putting it away with the
kitchen dress. but there ere very few.
for the majority of people carry their
working-minds wherever they 90,
Those who have q great deal 10 do
and more particularly where thew are
mental workers, find little pleasure in
eatirg alone, for their mind 10 contin.
uaily working, and very often thew
scarcely know what they are eating.
CHEEKY company at meal hours to peo.
pie OF this stamp is the best tonic that
can be taken; it lifts the mind swsv
from work, in spite of itself, and gives
1t that rest that should always come
with the meal hours.
In the home, then, where both phys.
teal and mental workers meet on COM
mon ground, it is of very great im.
portancs that all things should be
done to make the meal hours shjoya.
bic and restful to all parties, and in
no better or pleasanter way can this
Be done than the bringing to the "a.
ole of CHEEKY conversation. II NAV
not be very brilliant or witty, but il
'erves the purpose of diverting the
mind, for even q little while, il does
Is much as even the brightest could
10. and what more can be desired g?
Pleasant anecdotes of people and
places are interesting to most every
'ne. and instructive to children. who
ire eager listeners to anything Of this
iind, questioning very closely the why
md wherefore. and if patiently an.
wered, learning a great deal.
~ let the. msnhers .nfths family hrinc
under their own eyes; no
natter how trifing it may appear to
,e, somebody will be sure to be inter-
'sted in it, for in a family of any size
here is a great diversity of tastes,
md what may be fat to one may be
e great interest to another. The ia
her can bring home a fund ofsayings
md doings from his work. both anus
ng and instructive. Little things
hat he has seen, stories that he has
leard, will be listened to with eager
attention at meal hours, by the meth
II and children, who, though taking
10 part in the busy business world of
which he is a member. yet are pleased
o have a breath of it brought into the
lone.
The mother, too, can have her little
ales of something that has taken
place in the home, and which to the
ather gives ss much enjoyment as
he can bring with him. She
,an remember what she thinks would
be of interest TO him TO repeat at the
table. There is always something oc-
curring in the home. which TO the
through her familiarity with
it, is not of much importance, but TO
person away from home is frequently
very interesting. Very often this il
of the humorous kind, which Of oil
things is the conversation Of the ta.
bic, for the heartier the laugh the bet.
ter the digestion. Children, no mat.
ter of what class or station. are famous
for their quaint, humorous sayings,
which, If recorded. would outvie many
Of the expressions Of our best humor.
lists. These expressions, if remember
ed until meal hours and then repeat.
ed, will be found very entertaining to
those Of the family who are away
from home oil day. Then the little
ones are sure TO have some little story
to tell Of school life or home, and FREE
quently snch tales are very enjoyable
10 both children and grown people.
Never find fault or chide any one,
either child or adult, at the table, un-
less there are very grave reasons for
so doing. and then do il a. quietly %
possible. Some mothers hoard up
through the day every little misde.
meanor Of which the children are gull
ty, and aIraign them before the faith
er at the table. This should never be
done; it does not help matters in the
least, but only tends 10 make uncom-
Portable all parties concerned. II
there are any complaints to be made.
which there should never be unless
there are weighty reasons. wait until
after the meal hour before making
them. There 10 nothing tendsto spoil
an appetite, and make q person oat
Of sorts with everybody. 50 quickly a.
unpleasant news. Never indulge in
an argument at the table. Only in
rare instances are they allowable st
all. and never at the table.